Impact of China's Cyber Security Role on South Asia and Neighboring Countries

Abstract

This study examines the expanding role of China in shaping South Asia’s cyber landscape, with particular focus on its growing digital partnership with Pakistan. As China strengthens its cyber diplomacy through initiatives such as the Cyber security Law, the cyber-sovereignty doctrine, and the Digital Silk Road, its influence increasingly extends into the technological infrastructures and cyber security frameworks of neighboring states. The literature reveals that China–Pakistan cyber cooperation has moved beyond traditional military and economic ties, creating new dynamics in regional power relations, digital sovereignty, and security governance. While Pakistan aligns closely with Chinese cyber norms, other South Asian countries, such as India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, struggle to balance the economic benefits of Chinese digital investments with concerns about surveillance, data control, and strategic dependence. The study identifies major cyber security vulnerabilities across South Asia, worsened by limited institutional capacity and weak legal frameworks, underscoring the need for stronger regional collaboration. It concludes that China’s cyber engagement is reshaping regional geopolitics and highlights the urgency for South Asian states to develop coordinated cyber security strategies to safeguard their digital autonomy and maintain stability in an increasingly contested cyber domain.